Did Bush Kill Plans For A ‘Diplomatic Presence In Tehran’ To Help McCain?
Did Bush Kill Plans For A ‘Diplomatic Presence In Tehran’ To Help McCain?
On July 16, news broke that President Bush had “authorized the most significant U.S. diplomatic contact with Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.” The report indicated that Bush planned to send a high ranking diplomat to participate in talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program. A day later, the Guardian reported that the Bush administration was taking the even more dramatic step of planning “to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran.”
The decision was surprising given that the Bush had recently compared talks with Iran to Nazi appeasement. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) repeatedly echoed Bush’s sentiments, calling restarting diplomatic relations with Iran “naive.”
In the first presidential debate, McCain went even further in condemning talking to Iran without preconditions. Contradicting one of his own foreign policy advisers — Henry Kissinger — McCain exclaimed: “It isn’t just naive; it’s dangerous!”
McCain’s comments have apparently forced a change in Bush administration policy, as Bush has now reportedly “shelved plans to set up a diplomatic outpost in Iran.” In a little-noticed Associated Press report from October 4, two administration officials argued that canceling the plans may have been an attempt to help McCain:
Opening an interest section, or de facto embassy, in Tehran could be interpreted as a Republican president helping a Republican nominee by neutralizing a distinction that might make the Democrat appealing.
It could be seen as hurting McCain by leaving him to defend a more hard-line position than the current Republican president’s. “There is no desire to inject this into the campaign,” the second official said.
But in canceling the U.S. outpost in Tehran less than two weeks after McCain took a strong stance against such efforts, the Bush administration appears to be very directly “injecting” the issue of diplomatic relations with Iran into the presidential campaign. Indeed, it raises the question: Did Bush kill the plan to avoid hurting McCain’s campaign?
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mccain’s hard line isn’t playing well with voters. bush has shown us all that it doesn’t work. We have to talk or kick ass and we are out of bullets thanks to bush.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pmYes.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm“Did Bush kill the plan to avoid hurting McCain’s campaign?”
October 7th, 2008 at 1:23 pmYES! Lest we forget that it was Scott McLellan who shined the light on this Administration’s strategy of running a continuous campaign for the Republican Party. In lieu of attempting to do what is right for America our boy king asks only what he can do for his party.
“Country First,” my fat ass.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:27 pmDid Bush kill the plan to avoid hurting McCain’s campaign?
…as if trashing the economy, eroding civil liberties, ignoring natural disasters and getting our military mired in two foreign occupations isn’t enough to hurt McCain’s campaign?
October 7th, 2008 at 1:29 pmSince everything bush touches turns to sht and since most voters don’t agree with the current situation or have confidence in the future, McCain should be pleading with bush to not do anything to try to help. That’s what he would do if he was a smart man.
It’d make a great sacrifice fly from bush to keep the thing going. JM could then say he’s against doing that and therefore move away from bush. That would require self-sacrifice from bush and that ain’t gonna happen.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:33 pmBush should have continued with his plans. Not only would it be something positive about his legacy (and there ain’t much he can point to with pride), but it would give “the maverick” something specific he could point to where he differs from Bush (an area that’s sadly lacking, for all of McCain’s bluster about “change” and “reform”).
October 7th, 2008 at 1:36 pmSeven years in the CorporaWhorehouse showcased Bush’s ability to use his power for Republican political gain. McCain’s only thread of credibility comes from his military background.
Bush has to drive that criteria above America’s Wall Street meltdown, now infecting the world’s economy. If Bush is a political hack, expect an attack on Iran prior to the election. If it comes afterwards, that’s Bush’s pathology, otherwise known as a Yale late night RISK game.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:36 pmJust more evidence of Republicans putting party before country while questioning others patriotism. Some freaking nerve.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pmPlease Bush, feel free to help McCain all you want.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:49 pmWe already know how McCain feels about Iran, anyway.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:10 pmThe Cheney-Bush cabal despised negotiation preferring bullying to the point of surrender. In their waning days they began to see the gross error of the teir insane ideological approach. To continue these errors for their bungling would-be successor underscores their moral bankruptcy!
October 7th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
October 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pmCountry First!As I remember it, Reagan folks interferred with the release of the hostages in Iran to delay it till after Carter.
I’m sure those hostages were more than happy to spend a few extra months in their resort location to help the Gipper.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pmThe Dictator helping the WannaBe Dictator, no sh!t Sherlock, the WAR CRIMINAL Bush does not do anything unless it is politically advantageous for the Fascist Mafia Repukes.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pmWow, So that is what “Country First” looks like.
Nice!!!!
October 7th, 2008 at 4:05 pm